Harrisburg Mayor – Blames ESOS Cancellation on ‘Illegal Weapons’

The office of Harrisburg Mayor Linda Thompson described as “unfortunate” the news that the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show, scheduled for Feb. 2 at the Farm Show Complex, would be postponed to an undetermined date.

The postponement came after hundreds of vendors decided to boycott the show in response to a decision by organizer Reed Exhibitions to ban assault-style weapons and ammunition from the show.

The mayor’s office issued this statement:

“It is unfortunate that Reed Exhibitions of Norwalk, Conn., has made the business decision to postpone the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show scheduled for the City of Harrisburg in February.

“It is also unfortunate that legal gun owners and the many families who have enjoyed a long tradition of hunting in the beautiful rural environment around the region will be deprived of this major event because of a controversy caused by firearms manufacturers who profit from the sale of weapons designed for the mass killing of human beings.